Abbott Wins Nevada National Hare & Hound

By Freelance | 9/27/2004 12:00 AM

Team Green's Destry Abbott crossed the finish line less than a minute ahead of Yamaha-mounted Russ Pearson to take the overall win at the Oasis-to-Wells 100 National Hare & Hound, yesterday. The two rivals waged a drag race across the sage-covered bomb run with Abbott barely edging Pearson as they headed out onto the 91-mile course in Northern Nevada. That gave the Kawasaki rider the advantage in dusty conditions and, though they both rode a flawless race, Pearson was not able to mount a challenge and had to settle for second. Abbott’s teammates Brian Brown and David Pearson were third and fourth, respectively, while Utah rider Rob Phillips, KTM, took fifth overall and top 250 honors.

Coming into this race, with two rounds remaining and two throwaways, it was still a four-way race with Abbott, Pearson, Pearson and Brown all having a mathematical chance at the championship. Now as they head to the final round next month in Lucerne, by our calculations, the championship is likely down to Abbott or Russ Pearson. If Abbott finishes second or first, he wins his third title. For Pearson to clinch, he'll have to finish first with Abbott third or lower. If Pearson takes a second in California and Abbott fourth or better, Destry wins it.